Self-leveling ship s berth



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

r D. PARKS. SELF LBVELING SHIPS BERTH. No. 280,233. Patented June 26,1883.

N. Pneus. Pmmvunmgmpnef. wnsmngnm. n c.

(No Moda.) 3 sheets-sheet 2.

- D. PARKS.

SELF `LEVBLING SHIPS BERTH.

Patented June 26, 1883.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-sheet 3.

D. PARKS.

i SELF LEVELING SHIPS BERTH.

No. 280,233. Patented June 26, 1883.

IUNITi-n STATESj PATENT j OFFICE. i

DANA PARKS, VOF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SELF-LEVELING SHIPS BERTH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,233, dated June 26,1883.

` Application filed Aprile, ieee. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DANA PARKS, a citizen of the United States, countyof Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Self-Leveling Ships Berths, and I do herebydeclare that the same are fully described in the following specificationand illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in self-leveling ships7 berths;and it is carried out as follows, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, where- Figure l represents a plan view, and Fig.2 represents a side elevation, of the improved berth. Fig. 3 representsa longitudinal section on the line A B, shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4represents a cross-section on the line C l), shown in Fig. l. Fig. 5represents a crosssection on the line E F, also shown in Fig. l, withthe inner section or berth shown as removed'. Fig. 6 represents asimilar section with the inner section, its end piece, and links shownas removed. Fig. 7 represents a partial longitudinal section on the lineG H, shown in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 represents an end viewof one of theberth-supporting brack- Similar letters refer to similar parts whereeverthey occur on the different parts of the drawings.

In ships7 berths of theself-leveling kind it is desirable that the berthshould not be too sensitive to the' rolling motions of the vessel, as

by being over sensitive to said motions the berth will oscillate fartherthan its level position, and thus be objectionable rather thanadvantageous. It is also desirable in such berths that its lateraladjustment in relation to the rolling motion of the ship shall be asindependent as possible from its longitudinal adjustment in relation tothe fore-and-aft motion of the vessel. Another desirable feature in aships berth of this kind is to automatically lock it in any desirableposition when going in or out of the berth. And with these objects inview I carry out my invention as follows:

a a c are the cabin-walls, as usual.

I) represents the inner section or berth proper, with its spring-wiremattress b, or other suitable bottom, as maybe desired. Theberthresiding at Boston, in the b is hung at c c to the short links c c, theupper ends of which are lhinged at c c to theinside of the middlesection, d cl, as shown.

To each of the fulcra c is hinged the upper end of the inclined link e,having a slothole, e, in its lower end, that embraces the stud orset-screw c, secured to the sides of the inner section, Z, as shown inFigs. 3 and 4, by which arrangement the berth or inner section, b, isnormally supported and made to swing on the lower fulcra, c c', untilthe fore` and-aft motion of the vessel increases sufficiently to bringthe stud or set-screw c to the upper or lower ends of the slot-hole c inthe link c, when a triangular support for the berth is obtained,consisting of pins or screws c,c, and e on each side of the berth b, inwhich condition the berth is made to rock on the upper fulcra, c c, tocompensate for the foreand-aft motion of the vessel.

The middle-section sides, d d, are made of thin metal and secured iirmlyto the thin metal end pieces d d, which are jointed loosely to therespective metal end piecesj'f of the outer section, ff, by means of apair of diagonal or cross links, g g, in each end of the berth, as shownin Fig. 5. Said links g g are hinged in their lower ends to therespective middle-section ends d d by means of the fulcrum pins orscrews g g and in their upper ends to the respective outer-sectionendsff by means of the fulcrum pins or screws g g, by which arrangementthe middle section and its suspended berth or inner section, b, may movein a lateral direction independently ofthe outer section, and to acertain extent act as retarding means in an opposite direction to thelateral motion of the outer section7 and thus to aid in keeping theberth as level as possible, and preventing it from being rocked too farlaterally by the sudden rolling of the vessel, as well as compensate forand yield automatically to changes in position of the occupant.

h h are the brackets, secured to the inner walls ofthe cabin a. a', asshown. Each of such brackets has a` circular projection or fulcrum, h',adapted to iit-into a corresponding circular perforation in the upperpart of each outersection end f, and said projections h h serve asfulcra on which the outer section of the berth may swing in a lateraldirection; but to IOC) ascesa' u prevent the berth from rocking tooeasily, and to swing too far in a lateral direction, l. provide eachofthe circular proj ections or fulcra h with an eccentric crank-pin orcam projection, 7b, (shown in Fig. 8,) to which the inclined links arehinged, as shown in Fig. 6, the lower ends of said links being hinged bymeans of pins or screws i ft" to the adjustable blocks It' k, which aremovable in the slotted perforations or recesscsjwf in the outer-sec tionends f, and provided withthe eompressible springs f" fi", as shown inFig. 6, by which arrangement the berth is prevented from rocking too faror too easily on its fulcra 7L hf by the rolling motion or' the vessel;and by this means sudden jerks and concussions of the Vberth areprevented during the roll of the vessel in quick and short seas.

Z Z Z Z are anti-friction rollers, located between the inner and middlesections, as shown in Figs. land 3, in journals either on the outside ofinner section or inside of outer section, as may be desirable. Similaranti-frictional rollers, fm my, are located between the end pieces ofthe outer and middle sections, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and n ozy aresimilar rollers, located between the outside of the end pieces for theouter sections and the inside of the cabin-walls, as shown, so as toprevent frictional resistance of the different parts.

The locking device lor securing the berth rigidly to the cabin, when apassenger desires to go in or out of the berth, is made as follows: Onthe inside of the outer section, j", is arranged the locking-bar 0 whichis movable in the guides o/ o, secured to the section j", and isnormally held in an 'unlocked position by means of the spring o, securedto section j, and having its lower end resting in a groove or recess inthe locking-bar o, as shown in FiO. 7. To the cabin-wall a is securedthe notched locking-plate p, in the notches of which the outer end ofthe locking-bar o is adapted to lock.

q is a lever movable on the fulcrum-pin q, secured to outer section, j",and having its lower camshaped end, q, lying loosely in contact with theinner end of the locking-bar o, as shown.

The middle section, d, is provided with an outwardly-curved edge, d,that ordinarily projects and lies over the upper edge of theouter-section side f, without touching it, and in such a manner as torest loosely on the upper end of the locking-lever q, as shown in Fig.2, and it will thus be seen that when au downward pressure is brought to,bear on the curved edge c by the occupant pressing down on it by goingout or into the berth, the lever d is turned on its fulcrum q', causingits lower end, q, to force the locking-bar o into any of the notches onthe stationary locking-plate p, and thus to hold the berth secured tothe cabin wall as long as the pressure is continued on the iiange oredge d. As soon as such pressure is relieved, the locking-bar o iswithdrawn from the notched plate p by the influence of the spring o, andthe berth is then instantly made self-leveling, as heretofore described.

The top of the iiange or edge d may be cov-V ered or suitablyupholstered, so as to be out of sight and at the same time be soft andelastic, for the comfort of the occupant when pressing or resting onsaid part, for the purpose as set forth.

Having thus lfully described the nature, construction, and operation ofmy invention, I wish to secure by Letters Patent and claiml. Theself-leveling ship s berth, as described, consisting, essentially, ofthe following elements: an inner section or berth pivoted to the sidesof a middle section, a middle section pivoted in its ends to the ends ofthe outer section, the latter being pivoted in its ends to thecabiirwalls, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a ships berth, the inner section pivoted at its sides to themiddle section, and the latter jointed in its ends to the ends of anouter section by means of diagonal links, as and for the purpose setforth.

3. In a ships berth, the stationary support ing-brackets hy h, havingprojections or fulcra h h and eccentric cam projections h, h, incombination with the links 'i i and adjustable sliding blocks 7c k,adapted to yield and move in slots or recesses in the ends of the outersection of the berth, as set forth.

4. In a ships berth, an inner section pivoted to the middle section, thelatter having an outwardly-proj ecting edge or flange adapted 'tooperate a lever pivoted to the outer section,

to cause the berth to be locked by pressure on said flange or edge, asset forth.

In testimony whereof l have affixed my sig nature in presence of twowitnesses.

DANA PARKS. lfitnesses:

ALBAN ANDRN, HENRY Crmnnonniv.

